WHoo!! My MKIII package came today! (PICS)

[Raccoon Lad]

MARK III, baby!
http://raccoonlad.topcities.com/video/mk3all.JPG
Actually, it came yesterday, but due to my appartment's mail room closing BEFORE mail usually arrives on Saturdays, I couldn't get it untill today.
This is actually my Mark III collection, I already had the Boxed system and 4 games, but the FM unit, and everything else is new.
Here's a listing of what's there:
http://raccoonlad.topcities.com/video/mk3top.JPG
Phantasy Star, Zaxxon 3D, Tensai bakabon, kenseiden, High School Kimengumi, Fantasy Zone
http://raccoonlad.topcities.com/video/mk3low.JPG
Woody Pop, Super Racing, Fantasy Zone 2, Lord of the Sword, Nazca '88 (Aztec adventure), Galactic protector, Chack'n Pop (SG-1000), Alex Kidd in Miracle World, some game about school girls with killer yo-yo's, Astro Flash (transbot), The Story of Mio, Zillion 2, Pit Pot, Bank Panic (SG-1000), Solomon's Key, some Mahjong game, 3 player Mah-jong (SG-1000), the Pro Yakyuu.

I can't believe how filthy the contacts on the carts were! I must have spent over 4 hours just cleaning/testing everything.

I also have an extra system up for trade that I'll be listing in the Buy/sell forum. 8-)

Jealous?

[§ Gideon §]

Jealous?
Jealous of your package??? Pssh... maybe.

[IntvGene]

Nice stuff..

The FM unit is a nice addition. I'm surprised you didn't get any Pachinko games.. you did get some Mahjongg ones though.. The Japanese do love their gamblinng games.

I need that Chack N Pop SG card too.

Ebay? Yahoo Auctions Japan? Private deal?

[Lady Jaye]

Is the Mark III backward-compatible with the SG-1000? BTW, when was the Mark III released in Japan?

I find it interesting how the MKIII carts are so different from the Sega Master System carts! Yet, I found out through emulation that the romchip is the same (ie. when playing Wonderboy via a SMS emulator, you can switch to the MKIII version without changing ROMs). Maybe it's to avoid piracy/export?

I didn't know there was a game based on High School Kimengumi... not that I'm surprised, considering all the games based on popular manga or anime ever released. BTW, how's that game? Is it quite wacky (in the spirit of the manga/anime) or is it more conventional?

[Raccoon Lad]

Yup, the Mark III's backwards compatible with the SG-1000, though some colors are darker when playing them on the Mark III. The SMS is technically compatible (though the BIOS prevents you from playing them), F-16 fighting falcon is a SG-1000 game.

High School Kimengumi...well, I haven't figured out how to play it yet. It does seem to have some wackiness judging by the opening sequence though. It's dumped and online if you want to play it.

[youruglyclone]

Jealous?

not really more confused that jealous cause I expected mortal kombat 3 not the sega mark 3

[Ed Oscuro]

Good stuff, Racoon Lad...I'm gonna have to put off getting some Mark III stuff for a long while, hope to do half as well as you have :)

[gamergary]

Nice stuff you should scan in the boxes themselves to be archived.

[ianoid]

FM Unit? Whassat?

[Ed Oscuro]

It boosts the Mark III's audio capabilities with a Yamaha YM-2413 OPL-3 FM synthesizer. I believe that's what the Master System has (Lookie (http://www.smspower.org/dev/docs/#Sound)). (Edit: Except, of course, that's just the Japanese SMS).

[Ed Oscuro]

Except I see all sorts of evidence to the contrary (Racoon Lad said the FM code in Phantasy Star was removed). I'm starting to think the U.S. SMS didn't have the Yamaha chip, and only late model Master Systems in Japan had the FM music chip.

Help, anybody? :P

[Raccoon Lad]

Only Japan got FM for their systems: Add-on for Mark III/ Built into Japanese SMS.

It can be a bit confusing, so here's the SMS time line:
late '85 Japan -Mark III
Mid '86 US -SMS
Some time in '87 Japan -FM unit
Late '87/early '88? Japan -Japanese SMS (looks like US system, but has built-in FM, built in 3D adapter, and a rapid fire button where the US reset switch is)

[Ed Oscuro]

I see. Actually, that's what I had expected to see (lots of little clues, like how FM synth is off by default in MEKA, websites, etc.) but I wanted to make sure.

One of Sega's little mysteries has been cleared up for me. Now, to hear this in action! :D

[Lady Jaye]

So the Japanese version of our SMS was still marketed as the SMS even though it's basically a version 2 of the Mark III? Also, does that mean that the Japanese SMS used the same carts as North America (as per the NTSC TV system) or did they still use the Mark III carts?

As you can see, I know very little about the Mark III and it's always interesting to broaden my knowledge. :D

[Ed Oscuro]

I can answer the question about carts. In Japan, all systems used that same cart format (seen in his pics above): Mark III and "SMS" both used it. So yeah, their SMS is quite different from ours. Gotta pick one up sometime.

[rbudrick]

But what about the power base converter? Does it have the Yamaha FM Chip?

Now wassat about them removing the FM sound form Phantasy STar? I have the Japanese, European, US, and Brazil versions of this. So, which had the FM capability (granted the machine must have the FM chip)?

I have a SMS/Mark iii adapter for the genesis at home, but I don't believe it supports the FM sound.

-Rob

[Raccoon Lad]

None of the adapters that I know of allow for FM. The Megadrive Phantasy Star 1 might have been reprogrammed to use the Megadrive's FM chip, but I wouldn't know first hand.

I'm pretty sure only the Japanese version of Phantasy Star has FM capability.

[kattkatt]

Maybe this would interest you? (unless you already have it)

http://hem.fyristorg.com/sprrr/Telecon.jpg

Wireless transmitter for the Mark III.....one of the coolest items ever.

/CC

[Ed Oscuro]

How much did you pay for that (or, did they put a price on it)? Not interested in buying, just curious what people think it's worth.

[Raccoon Lad]

Those are super awesome! I'd love to get one some day. I saw one on Yahoo Japan for about $20, but after bidding service fees and shipping, it'd end up costing me about $65, and after blowing a ton on the stuff i just got, I can't justify putting together another big package to even out the price.

Really, is there anyhting cooler than a funky looking antenna with Sega emblazoned across it?

[Cmosfm]

Jealous?

not really more confused that jealous cause I expected mortal kombat 3 not the sega mark 3

Same here, I kept passing over and passing over this thread because I thought it was Mortal Kombat 3 and didn't really care. LOL

Nice though, real nice, i am a bit jealous.

[§ Gideon §]

Really, is there anyhting cooler than a funky looking antenna with Sega emblazoned across it?
Does it spin around?

[Ed Oscuro]

Nope.

Also, screw everybody who thought this was a Mortal Krap topic, with that antenna, TWICE LOL

Seriously, the Mark III/SMS is so much cooler than that game series...cuz, you know...there's more games on the SMS, that counts for something :P

[Yukio]

But there is a Mortal Kombat 3 for SEGA Master System ... I played the game.

[InsaneDavid]

But there is a Mortal Kombat 3 for SEGA Master System ... I played the game.

You do realize that it's been FOUR YEARS since this thread was actively being viewed, right?

[Yukio]

You do realize that it's been FOUR YEARS since this thread was actively being viewed, right?

FOUR YEARS ... and I found this topic when searching for old stuff (SG-1000 and related)! At least the SEGA Master System got a very nice version of Golvellius to play, it even supports the "MSX-Music" chip from Yamaha !!!

Does anyone remember if the game play well using standard Atari 2600 VCS controllers? I know that Sonic and Sonic 2 play very well with older controllers ...

[boatofcar]

What ever happened to Raccoon Lad?

[InsaneDavid]

What ever happened to Raccoon Lad?

I believe he had some family issues come up, or at least that was the case a long time ago when I bought a Pac-Man tabletop from him.

[cosmicpsycho]

I believe he had some family issues come up, or at least that was the case a long time ago when I bought a Pac-Man tabletop from him.

BLAH.

[ShinobiMan]

What ever happened to Raccoon Lad?

Yeah, where is my Raccoon buddy. His art always reminded me of the great Don Bluth's work. I could always count on him for a good SMS conversation.

As for this topic, I remember it well, and I remember the jealousy I felt. It still burns. LOL

[rbudrick]

Yeah, RL knew EVERYTHING about old Sega stuff. Quite the resident expert. I enjoy his posts. Where da fuck you at, Raccoon?

-Rob

[rupert]

What ever happened to Raccoon Lad?

he's still posting on sega8bit and SMSPower.

[emceelokey]

not really more confused that jealous cause I expected mortal kombat 3 not the sega mark 3

I though the same thing too. You couldn't have added the AR in mARk. It's just two letters and you had more than enough space to fit it in the title.

[Joe West]

nice setup on the mark..............................

[poloplayr]

You do realize that it's been FOUR YEARS since this thread was actively being viewed, right?

LOL :)